Dear Beloved Mission Family,

As we are approaching the holiday season, we would like to express our gratitude for your continued generous support and commitment to helping so many children in Ethiopia. Our mission as an organization is to fight pediatric cancer in developing countries. Most of the children we assist are from low-income households who are unable to afford governmental health insurance available to the public. These families usually live paycheck to paycheck and are not able to provide their children with proper medications, vaccinations, or nutrition. The lack of basic necessities, therefore, leads to many children being exposed to common preventable diseases.

Majority of families in Black Lion Hospital (BM’s current location of operation) live under the poverty line and struggle to support their families financially. According to the World Bank, the average family income in Ethiopia is less than $1 per day, which is 202nd in the world (2006). In light of this, families with health problems have to make substantial sacrifices to get proper treatment. In addition, due to expensive medications costs, families are forced to sell their house properties in order to pay medical bills. In some instances, families would sell income-producing properties to cover the medical cost. Although this brings temporary health benefits, it exposes families to poverty and disease comorbidities in the future.

Therefore continuous support from the Ethiopian government and non-profit organizations like BM is necessary to provide adequate health care assistance. Donations like yours, regardless of how much it is, is crucial to the work that we do in Ethiopia. As we come together with family and friends during this holiday season, let us remember those who are less fortunate than us and ways in which we can support them.

If interested, you can donate under the “Donate” tab on the homepage of our website.

Sincerely,

Henok Leticho

Board Member